The European Union, which has sent a 120-strong election observation team, repeated calls for a violence-free election.

"I call again on all those involved in the election to respect the fundamental right of every Nepali citizen to cast their vote on April 10 in a peaceful atmosphere without fear of intimidation or violence," Jan Mulder, the chief observer, said.

The elections are the first since a peace deal brought Nepal's Maoists fighters into mainstream politics and ended a decade-long civil war in which at least 13,000 people have died.

The 27 million people of the Himalayan nation between India and China will be hoping that the election can bring peace and prosperity.

"We have no choice but to be hopeful," Biraj Shresthra, a 43-year-old who runs a Kathmandu electronics shop, said. "We've seen so much fighting. Maybe now it will stop."